The act of rebuilding is an act of courage, and it requires great strength of character and faith. Rebuilding, as the word implies, is building again. Rebuilding means what has been, has been lost. We rebuild from a place of discouragement, disappointment, grief or failure. We find that life in this world is a series of rebuilding projects, until the Lord calls us to glory and the work is done. We find that even repentance is a kind of rebuilding - leaving the old behind and building a new life in Christ. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah hold the story of the people of Israel rebuilding after the Babylonian exile. Their exile was the consequence of their sins. They persisted in disobedience through repeated warnings from the Lord. It was their fault, and yet, the Lord is gracious and forgiving, allowing them them to return and rebuild. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to allow the story of God’s grace for the people as they rebuilt then, to help us rebuild in our lives and in the Church and in our nation and culture today. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God has “arrived among you” (Matthew 12:28), that the Kingdom “is near you now” (Luke 10:9), and in Luke 17:21, that “the Kingdom of God is already among you.” Surely, we know that the Kingdom is coming. The Lord will return, bringing the fullness of the reign of God, consummating the Kingdom of God. But, while we watch, wait and pray, “Thy Kingdom come,” we also get to live together as Kingdom people. Our church family gets to be an outpost of heaven here on earth, and we get to advance the Kingdom of God in the power of the name of Jesus.